As soon as the words in the locker room faded, Lu Chuan's eyes changed.
The suppressed anger transformed into pure killing intent. He re-tied his shoelaces, every movement exuding a resolute determination.
The second half began, and Lu Chuan's positioning underwent a clear change.
He no longer engaged in pointless physical tussles with Bartra, but instead roamed more into the defensive zone of the other center-back, Aïssa Mandi.
Each time he received the ball, Lu Chuan used his quicker turn and acceleration to challenge the relatively ponderous Mandi.
His steps became lighter, like a leopard ready to pounce at any moment.
This change caught Betis's defense somewhat off guard.
Bartra had to expand his defensive range to cover Mandi, which occasionally exposed gaps between him and the full-back.
In the 53rd minute, Lu Chuan received the ball on the right side of the attacking third. Facing Mandi's close marking, he suddenly stopped and pulled the ball back, then immediately changed direction to break through to the left.
Mandi's turn was clearly half a beat slow, and he was left a full body length behind.
"Beautiful!" Trejo couldn't help but exclaim from the backfield as he witnessed the scene.
In the 61st minute, Real Betis still seized an opportunity.
Canales picked up the ball in midfield, his gaze sweeping across the entire attacking third, searching for the most lethal passing lane.
Suddenly, he saw an opening. A brilliant through ball tore open Rayo Vallecano's defense, and winger Cristian Tello used his speed to burst into the Penalty Box.
Tello, facing the onrushing Dimitrievski, calmly fired a powerful shot that pierced Rayo Vallecano's goal.
"Bang!" The sound of the ball hitting the net echoed through Vallecas Stadium.
0-1, Vallecas Stadium fell silent.
The fans in the stands instantly quieted down. The South Stand, which had been loudly cheering moments before, was now left with only sporadic sighs.
Lu Chuan showed no signs of frustration after conceding; instead, he became even calmer.
He stood near the center circle, took a deep breath, and silently chanted to the system in his mind: "System, activate the effects of all the experience cards for [Penalty Box Finisher] and [Heading Expert]!"
Instantly, he felt his senses become incredibly acute.
Every subtle change in space within the Penalty Box, every shift in a defensive player's center of gravity, was clearly reflected in his mind.
In the 68th minute, Lu Chuan received a pass from a teammate on the edge of the Penalty Box. He did not rush to release the ball, but calmly observed the defensive players' positioning.
Bartra quickly closed in to press, but Lu Chuan deftly nudged the ball to the right with the outside of his foot, evading Bartra's tackle.
In the 75th minute, the opportunity arrived.
Winger Álvaro García delivered a powerful cross from the left flank. The ball was deflected by a Betis defender and bounced high into the air.
Inside the Penalty Box, Lu Chuan anticipated the second bounce. He charged towards the ball, preparing to head it towards goal.
Just then, Real Betis's defensive midfielder William Carvalho, who had tracked back, recklessly pushed him from behind!
"Beep!" The referee's sharp whistle blew, and he unhesitatingly pointed to the penalty spot!
penalty kick! Vallecas Stadium erupted in a massive cheer! The entire stadium's atmosphere was ignited in an instant, fans leaping from their seats, waving scarves and flags.
Captain Trejo walked towards Lu Chuan with the ball, but Lu Chuan shook his head, his gaze firm as he took the ball from his hand.
"I'll take it!"
Lu Chuan didn't even look into Trejo's eyes; he simply took the ball from his hand, as if it were inherently his responsibility, as it should be.
Lu Chuan placed the ball on the penalty spot and took a deep breath. He could feel the pressure from Betis goalkeeper Dani Martín, as well as the gaze of tens of thousands of fans in the stadium.
Just as he began his run-up, the system's voice sounded in his mind: [Ding! Core Talent: Guaranteed Penalty Kick, triggering probability being judged... 5%... 10%... Trigger failed.]
The talent didn't trigger, but the [Big Heart] skill fragment played a role in the background. Lu Chuan's heartbeat was exceptionally steady; he calmly observed the goalkeeper's movement.
Dani Martín continuously swayed left and right on the goal line, trying to disrupt Lu Chuan's judgment. But Lu Chuan's gaze remained focused; he had already chosen his shooting angle.
Run-up, lift leg, shoot!
His right foot sent a ground ball with an incredibly tricky angle! Although the goalkeeper guessed the correct direction, his fingertips were off by a hair's breadth! The ball rolled into the net, hugging the post!
1-1!
After scoring, Lu Chuan picked up the ball and quickly ran back to the center circle, not wasting a second on celebration.
But as he passed Bartra, he lightly bumped him with his shoulder and whispered, "This is just the beginning."
Bartra violently flung his hand, spat fiercely, and muttered curses under his breath.
As the match entered its final stages, both teams were playing with fierce intensity. Paco Jémez had used all his substitutions and pushed his entire team forward.
The head coach on the sidelines constantly made gestures, directing the players' positioning. His voice sounded particularly piercing amidst the noisy stadium.
In the 89th minute, the last minute of regular time, Rayo Vallecano won a free kick in the attacking third.
Trejo stood over the ball, his gaze sweeping over his teammates in the Penalty Box.
Lu Chuan constantly moved within the Penalty Box, searching for the best position to attack the ball.
Trejo sent the ball into the Penalty Box, and players from both sides crowded together. The ball flew through the air, everyone vying for this crucial opportunity.
The ball was headed clear by Mandi and fell to the edge of the Penalty Box arc!
Just as everyone was scrambling for the first touch, Lu Chuan appeared like a ghost at the ball's landing spot!
He didn't wait for the ball to land. As the ball descended, he swung his right leg with all his might, meeting the ball in mid-air!
Lu Chuan's right leg muscles tensed, his body arched backward like a bow. All his attention was focused on the point where the instep of his right foot was about to connect with the ball.
A thunderous volley! The ball flew like a cannonball straight into the top corner of the goal!
Dani Martín desperately stretched out his hand, but it was all too late.
"Bang!"
The ball slammed heavily into the net, emitting a crisp sound.
2-1! A last-gasp winner!
The moment the final whistle blew, the entire Vallecas Stadium exploded.
Fans leapt from their seats, embracing strangers next to them. Some emotional elderly fans even covered their faces, tears streaming from between their fingers.
The fans surged towards the sidelines, waving scarves and flags.
The entire stadium trembled, as if about to be overturned by this passion.
Lu Chuan was tossed high into the air by his teammates, his figure appearing exceptionally dazzling in the night sky.
Paco Jémez rushed onto the field, embracing everyone.
In the stands, the technical analyst from the Chinese Football Association silently crossed out "insufficient ball handling details" that he had previously written in his notebook.
He rewrote a line: "Possesses top-tier shooting skills and strong mental fortitude that can change a game. Recommendation: Prioritize scouting, can be directly called up!"
It wasn't until late at night, back in his apartment, that Lu Chuan, after collapsing onto the sofa, pulled out his vibrating, hot phone from his pocket. An unread message was on the screen.
A message from an unknown number popped up, signed by: Ester.
The message contained only one sentence: "Hi, remember me? That 'trouble' from Barcelona. Your performance tonight was amazing."
Lu Chuan looked at the phone screen, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. But soon, his attention was drawn back by the celebratory shouts of his teammates.
Tonight, he had conquered Vallecas Stadium with two goals, conquering all the voices that doubted him.
Bartra walked to the sidelines, and his teammate patted him: "Don't worry about it, Marc."
Bartra shook his head, spat out the grass, and whispered, "That kid, he won fair and square."